WRITTEN QUESTION E-1760/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 June 2002)

Subject: Cattle import licences

The prospect of a change in the method of allocating licences for breeding calves for fattening has caused intense speculation and great concern among Greek stock farmers.

Is there any such prospect and, if so, how does the Commission intend to safeguard the future of small importers who have invested in recent years in modernising their operations but will be unable to compete as the financial conditions intended to apply to imported cattle will favour only large-scale stock farmers in Europe?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2002)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1126/2002 of 27 June 2002 opening and providing for the administration of an import tariff quota for young male bovine animals for fattening (1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003)(1) has established the detailed rules for the quota year 2002/2003 with regard to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) import quota of live male animals for fattening.

The basic method of allocation of import rights has not been modified compared with the corresponding Regulation of 2001(2). This means that the Greek importers still have a guaranteed access to a specific part of the quota with unchanged criteria of participation. However, the specific part reserved for Greek importers was slightly reduced from 11,5 % (=19 500 animals) to 10,7 % (=18 100 animals) in line with recent developments of import needs.

The Regulation has introduced reinforced provisions on the actual use of import certificates. The main objective is to avoid speculation and trade in licences which, if achieved, would benefit all genuine importers irrespective of their trading volumes.

(1) OJ L 169, 28.6.2002.

(2) OJ L 150, 6.6.2001.